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No fubject is more interefling, or can be a fitter theme, for thofe vefted with a poetical genius, than thefe of an evangelical nature, either directly founded upon fome particular portion of facred writ, or drawn from it, by juft and neceffary confequence. No writings, for juftnefs of fentiment, and fublimity of ftile, can equal or compare with thefe of divine infpiration and though the myfteries of Christianity, and the wonders of our holy religion, ftand in no need of gay trimings and poetical embellishments to fet them off; yet, fuch is the fuperior excellency of infpired poefy, that the brightest and moft elevated defcrip. tions of a mortal pen muft vail to it: and therefore, fays a celebrated writer, If any would attempt to be master of true eloquence, and aim at a proper elevation of ftile, let him read, with unremitting dili. gence, the antient prophets, and infpired apoftles; for their writings are an abundant fource of all the riches and ornament of fpeech.'

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Where will you find fuch ftrong figures, bold metaphors, and furprisingly beautiful images, than in the writings of Mofes, the Ifraelitifh law-giver, whom Longinus himself, a Gentile critic, cites as master of the true fublime file? Where can there be feen, among all our celebrated moderns, fuch grandeur, variety, and juftnefs of ideas, or more pomp and beauty of expreffion, than in the writings of Job? And is not poetical excellencies, depth of thought, and sublimity of ftile, carried to its utmost pitch, in the writings of David, the prophet Ifaiah, and in fome paffages of the leffer prophets?-When this is the case, is it not furprifing that fo many, endued with fine poetical abilities, fhould fo much neglect, in their various compofitions, to read their Bibles, adopt the fentiments, and attempt to imitate the fublime ftile of the infpired writers?

It hath been now a long and just complaint, that poefy, which is of a divine original, fhould have been fo much debafed to the worst of purposes, in decorating vice and profanenefs; and that men, endued with fuch a happy talent, fhould fo much employ it, in furnishing out theatrical entertainments, or upon ludicrous and profane trifles. How happy would it have been for the world, what an ornament to Christianity, and advantage to the church, and how honouring to themselves, as well as beneficial to the interefts of religion, had they employed it on evangelical and divine fubjects, in pointing out the beauties of creation, the bounty of providence, the depths of redeeming love and grace, and the excellency and fweetness of true religion and practical godlinefs!

The Rev. Mr. ERSKINE, Author of the following Poems, was happy in employing his poetical talent to the best of purposes: the fubjects he made choice of to handle, were of the utmost importance for mankind to know; his manner of treating them, truly evangelical; and the fpirit that breathes through them, heavenly and divine; tending to warm the heart, excite to genuine devotion, and to infpire the mind with juft and proper fentiments of God, and true religion.

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The fentiments of Dr. Bradbury, relative to our Author's poetical talent, is very juft. Mr. Erfkine's Poems, fays he, are greatly to be efteemed, for the 'fweetness of the verfe, the difpofition of the fubjects, 'the elegancy of the compofition, and, above all, for that which animates the whole, the favour of divine and experimental knowledge.'

The following lines of two celebrated English poets, in commendation of another, may not improperly be applied to our Author.

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